If you’re struggling with breastfeeding and someone has suggested you see a lactation consultant, your first question is probably: What are they actually going to do?
It’s a fair question. The term gets used loosely, and that’s part of the problem. Here’s what you need to know before you book.
Not Everyone Who Uses the Title Is Equally Qualified
This is the first thing I tell every new mother who asks me about this. In Australia, there is no protected registration for the title “lactation consultant”, which means technically anyone can use it. A person who has done a short online course and someone who has spent years in clinical practice can both call themselves a lactation consultant.
The qualification that matters is the IBCLC, International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. It is issued by the International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE), and it is the highest internationally recognised credential in the field. To sit the exam, candidates must complete a minimum of 90 hours of lactation-specific education and accumulate at least 1,000 hours of supervised clinical experience. The certification must be renewed every five years through continuing education and re-examination.
This is the standard that hospitals use to credential their most specialised lactation staff. When you see an IBCLC, you’re seeing someone whose qualification has been externally verified.
So What Does a Lactation Consultation Actually Look Like?
A lot of people expect a lactation consultation to be like a midwife dropping in for a quick check. It isn’t. A proper IBCLC consultation is a clinical assessment.
Here’s what I do when I come to see you:
- I take a full feeding history. I ask about your birth, your baby’s weight gain since birth, how many feeds per day and per night, how long feeds take, what the feeds feel like on your end, and whether your baby seems satisfied after feeding. This history tells me a great deal before I’ve even watched a feed.
- I observe a complete breastfeed. Not just a few minutes. A full feed, from the beginning. I watch how your baby attaches, what their suck looks like, whether they’re transferring milk effectively, and what’s happening with your breast tissue. Most problems become visible when you know what to look for.
- I assess your baby’s oral anatomy. I check for tongue tie, lip tie, and palate shape, all of which can have a significant impact on feeding efficiency and your comfort. This is an area where an IBCLC assessment is genuinely different from what most GPs or child health nurses are trained to do.
- I give you a specific, written plan. Not a list of tips. A plan based on what I actually found during the assessment, with clear actions, follow-up steps, and indicators to watch for.
When Should You See a Lactation Consultant?
The honest answer is: sooner than most people do. By the time many women reach me, they’ve been struggling for weeks, their nipples are damaged, their supply has taken a hit, and they’re at the point of giving up. Earlier intervention usually means faster resolution.
You should consider booking if:
- Feeding is painful. A correctly latched baby should not cause ongoing pain
- Your baby is unsettled, feeding constantly, or not settling after feeds
- You’re worried about your milk supply, whether it seems too low or too high
- Your baby has slow weight gain or has dropped below their birth weight beyond the normal timeframe
- You can see or feel what might be a tongue tie
- You have recurring blocked ducts, mastitis, or thrush
- You had a difficult breastfeeding experience previously and want support from the start
- You’re pregnant and want to prepare properly, including colostrum harvesting, before your baby arrives
Do You Have to Be Struggling to See a Lactation Consultant?
No. I see women antenatally, before their babies arrive, to prepare them for breastfeeding. This is one of the most valuable things you can do, particularly if you have risk factors for supply issues (such as PCOS, previous breast surgery, or a planned caesarean), if you’ve had a difficult experience before, or if you simply want to be well-prepared.
Colostrum harvesting from around 36 weeks is something I guide women through in person, and having that ready before birth can make a significant difference in the early hours.
What About the Hospital Lactation Service?
Hospital lactation services do important work, but they operate under significant resource constraints. Midwives on the postnatal ward are managing multiple patients, visits are short, and continuity, seeing the same person who knows your history, is often not possible.
That’s not a criticism of hospital staff. It’s a reality of how the system is resourced.
A private IBCLC comes to your home, takes the time to do a thorough assessment, and follows your care. That continuity and depth is genuinely different.
Book a Lactation Consultation in Perth
I’m Catherine Allgrove , IBCLC, endorsed midwife, and LCANZ member based in North Perth. I provide home visit consultations within 30km of the CBD and telehealth consultations for clients further away.
Medicare rebates are available for eligible postnatal visits up to 6 weeks after birth.